Packers may deal backup tackle

Kansas City — The Green Bay Packers traded one former tight end turned tackle at the final cut last year and probably will have chances to deal another Saturday.

A source said several teams are interested in tackle Breno Giacomini, one of four veteran offensive linemen the Packers might be considering releasing on the roster reduction.

All teams must reach the 53-man limit by 3 p.m. Saturday. The Packers have 75 players on the roster.

Giacomini, a fifth-round draft choice in 2008, played tight end early in his career at Louisville just as Tony Moll, a fifth-round pick in 2006, did at Nevada. The Packers shipped Moll to Baltimore Sept. 5 for safety Derrick Martin.

"We don't even joke around about that stuff," center Jason Spitz said. "Obviously, we all want to be here. We're all working toward that. But it won't work out that way."

Giacomini has prototypical size and temperament for right tackle, won't turn 25 until Sept. 27 and has two minimum-salary years remaining on his contract. Those factors make him attractive to some of the teams looking for a tackle.

The Packers probably couldn't expect anything more than a seventh-round draft pick or backup player in return for Giacomini. But at least the Packers would get something for him if they decide rookie Marshall Newhouse would be a better bet as the last tackle.

Josh Sitton, Chad Clifton, Mark Tauscher, Scott Wells and Daryn Colledge are the starters, and Bryan Bulaga is No. 6. Versatile T.J. Lang appears next in line, followed by the Newhouse-Giacomini survivor and the survivor of the interior backup battle among Evan Dietrich-Smith, Nick McDonald and Spitz.

Spitz and Allen Barbre, who is out with a sciatic nerve problem, probably are being shopped as well.

Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said Giacomini played a little better against Indianapolis than he did in the first two exhibition games.

"You didn't see him on the ground a couple times," said Philbin. "If you're playing on the edge, you can't be on the ground. He had a little bit better balance with his feet."

Some players and coaches have said the Packers are as deep in the line as they have been in years, but Philbin is taking a cautious approach.

"We'll find out," he said. "I think we've performed better. We've got a chance to be good, but I'll withhold until we see it."

Three's a crowd:Quinn Johnson has played more snaps than Korey Hall and John Kuhn in the three-man competition at fullback that could be for only two jobs. In fact, Johnson was used on the sixth play of the opening series against Indianapolis.

If the Packers are showcasing Johnson in hopes of trading him, the second-year man hasn't considered it.

"I don't know what their motives are," said Johnson. "Anything is possible. I definitely think I'm playing better than last year."

Philbin agreed, saying Johnson's lead blocking has improved.

"We could certainly use all those guys," said Philbin. "Things in this game change so fast."

Coming on: According to Philbin, No. 3 quarterback Graham Harrell has shown significant improvement in the last two weeks.

"He throws it kind of like a quarterback should," said Philbin. "He gets away from center, he has good ball carriage and he has (confidence) that you like. He's pretty natural."

Philbin also said Harrell appeared to have enough arm strength.

Key test: Rookie free agent Sam Shields took every snap as the No. 1 nickel back during three days of practice this week. If he performs well Thursday night against the Chiefs, he figures to be there Sept. 12 against the Eagles.

"One day he's going to be a very, very good player," cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt said. "He's not there yet. He needs to be a good player come the Philly game. He is a great kid."

Big chance: Wide receiver Jason Chery, a "street" free agent, has been used strictly as a split end since arriving Aug. 5.

"I just thought that was best in fairness to him," position coach Jimmy Robinson said. "Limit the learning."

Robinson said Chery has struggled at times grasping the offense, which wasn't unexpected given he missed the entire off-season.

If Chery does make the team as the No. 5 wide receiver, the staff would tailor a few plays each week if he had to play.

With the four top wide receivers playing extremely well, Robinson doesn't see much need for a tired player to stay on the field.

"A fresh guy with the talent that we have in those four is certainly going to be more effective than a gassed guy no matter how good he is," said Robinson. "You would hope they'd be smart enough to know, 'Hey, there's somebody over there that wants to get in here and he's fresh and I'm gassed, I need a blow for a play or two.'"